The merger of Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Southwest Philadelphia and Saint Francis de Sales Parish in West Philadelphia took effect on Tuesday, July 1, 2008. The new name of the parish is Saint Francis de Sales Parish: United by the Most Blessed Sacrament. Masses will be celebrated on Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 10:45 a.m. at Saint Francis de Sales Church.

Reverend Zachary Navit, Pastor of the new Saint Francis de Sales Parish: United by the Most Blessed Sacrament, said, "Through a better use of our resources, the Catholic Church can better serve the needs of the people of West and Southwest Philadelphia. A renewed emphasis on evangelization and service shown through outreach will mark the beginning of the merged parish, Saint Francis de Sales Parish: United by the Most Blessed Sacrament."

The Proposed Parish Pastoral Plan was submitted in September 2007 by Father Navit along with the joint Parish Pastoral Councils and the Parish Finance Council of both parishes. The recommendation was based upon declining Catholic populations in the area and parish resources. The number of parishioners at Most Blesses Sacrament Parish declined from 878 in 2001 to approximately 300 in 2007. Once the recommendation was accepted by Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, in December 2007, Unity Masses and fellowship socials were held to help parishioners come to know one another. The farewell Mass for Most Blessed Sacrament was celebrated in November 2007 and the main altar from Most Blessed Sacrament has been moved to Saint Francis de Sales Church as a sign of unity.

Background:
In 1999, as part of the Archdiocesan Planning for Cluster 33, West and Southwest Philadelphia, Most Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Francis de Sales Parish were "twinned" and began to share a Pastor. Although the parishes remained independent and canonically distinct, in 2004 the business and administrative functions were consolidated and located at Saint Francis de Sales.

The goal throughout the process of merging the parishes has been to enable the Catholic Church to maintain itself and become more present, vibrant and viable in West and Southwest Philadelphia and to serve its communities and parishioners in a more effective manner.

For more information about Saint Francis de Sales Parish: United by the Most Blessed Sacrament please visit www.saintfrancisdesales.net.

Contact
Meredith Wilson
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747